1997 - One of the eight original franchises in the WNBA, the Starzz played their first game June 21, 1997, losing 70-60 to the Sacramento Monarchs before 9,858. Wendy Palmer took the first Utah shot, Deboarh Carter made the first Utah basket and Tammi Reiss made the first free throw and 3-pointer in history. They beat Los Angeles 102-89 in their second game, June 23, behind 28 points from Palmer. Palmer averaged 15.8 points a game and had 225 rebounds for the season. Elena Baranova had 63 blocked shots and a 12.2 average. Record: 7-21 Coach: Denise Taylor
1998 - After placing last in the league, the Starzz got the No. 1 overall draft pick and selected 7-foot-2 Margo Dydek of Poland. Utah lost nine of its last 10 games. Palmer averaged 13.5 points, and Baranova and Dydek each averaged 12.9. Dydek had 114 blocked shots and 227 rebounds. Record 8-22; Coach: Denise Taylor, Frank Layden.
1999 - After the ABL folded, Natalie Williams joined her hometown team via the WNBA Draft. Utah also picked up Adrienne Goodson and Debbie Black. Frank Layden resigned as coach four games into the season, and Fred Williams took over. The Starzz traded Palmer and Olympia Scott-Richardson to Detroit for Korie Hlede and Cindy Brown. They were led by 18 points and 9.2 rebounds a game from Natalie Williams, who made the All-Star team, and 14.9 points from Goodson. Record 15-17; Coach: Frank Layden, Fred Williams.
2000 - Utah won six of its last eight games to finish above .500 for the first time. It signed an un-retired Jennifer Azzi in the off-season, but she missed half of the season with a broken hand. Williams scored 18.7 points and had 11.6 rebounds a game. Dydek blocked 96 shots. Record: 18-14 Coach: Fred Williams
2001 - Marie Ferdinand was drafted and added a fourth double-figure scorer. Dydek made 113 blocks including 10 in one game. Fred Williams was fired on July 6 just before a game with Cleveland. Harvey took over just hours before the game, which Utah won 73-69. With a July 24 76-61 win in Houston, Utah kicked off a franchise-high eight-game win streak and made the playoffs for the first time. Record: 19-13; Coach: Fred Williams, Candi Harvey.
2002 - Harvey's team opened with an overtime win at Minnesota and had two four-game win streaks on the way to its only 20-win season, relying mainly on the starting five of Azzi, Ferdinand, Goodson, Williams and Dydek, who took turns making big contributions each game. Utah won a playoff game for the first time, 66-59 over Houston, then lost 83-77 in double-overtime at Houston before winning a first postseason series. That 75-72 victory on Aug. 20 in Houston was lessened out of worries for referee Bill Stokes, who collapsed with a massive heart attack and was shocked back to life twice while lying on the court. He has recovered well. Utah made the Western Conference Finals, losing two to eventual champion Los Angeles. Record 20-12; Coach: Candi Harvey.
As one of the league's charter franchises, the Utah Starzz entered the WNBA on Oct. 30, 1996. They made their on-court debut June 21, 1997, as they hosted the Sacramento Monarchs at the Delta Center. The Starzz ended their inaugural season in last place with a 7-21 record, but the 2002 season saw the organization reach new heights and establish themselves as one of the top teams in the league. The Starzz went on two four-game winning streaks during the season, helping propel them to their first 20-win season in franchise history. The Starzz also tied the franchise record for most wins at home, going 12-4 at the Delta Center. The Starzz concluded their historic 2002 season on August 12 at home with an 81-79 win over the Sacramento Monarchs, ending with a 20-12 record. Finishing the season in third place in the Western Conference, the Starzz went on to defeat the four-time WNBA Champion Houston Comets in the first round of the playoffs, sending them to the Western Conference Finals for the first time. The Los Angeles Sparks clinched the series in L.A., defeating the Starzz on Aug. 24.The Starzz starting lineup boasts three WNBA All-Stars - Adrienne Goodson, Marie Ferdinand, and Natalie Williams - as well as 7-2 Margo Dydek, the tallest player in WNBA history. In addition, point guard Jennifer Azzi - the 1990 Naismith College Player of the Year - is recognized as one of the top playmakers in the history of women's basketball.The 6-0 Goodson led the Starzz in scoring during the 2002 season, averaging 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34.4 minutes while starting all 32 games. The Starzz's balanced offensive attack was also paced by the 5-9 Ferdinand, who also started all 32 games and averaged 15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.59 steals in 33.3 minutes. The two ranked 10th and 11th in the WNBA in scoring.Williams - a member of the 2000 USA Olympic Team - has been named to the All-WNBA First Team in three of her four seasons. During the 2002 season she averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 31 games while becoming the first player in league history to post a 20-20 game (finishing with 22 points and 20 rebounds at Sacramento on 6/22).A native of Poland who speaks five languages (Polish, French, Spanish, English and Russian) Dydek has led the WNBA in blocks each of the last five seasons. During the 2002 campaign she averaged 13.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.57 blocks in 30 games.Rounding out the team's starting lineup is Azzi. A two-time All-American at Stanford and a member of the 1996 USA Olympic Team, she made her WNBA debut in 1999 after starting her professional career overseas and the ABL. For the 2002 season she started all 32 games and averaged 9.6 points, 4.9 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 36.0 minutes. In her four WNBA seasons Azzi has twice led the league in three-point field goal percentage and has a career mark of .480 from beyond the arc.